The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-27
GIN. BRAGG INDICATED
BY EX.PRRSIDENT JEFFERSON
DAVIS AND GEN. CHALMERS.
No More Pure and Upselflsh Patriot
Drew His Sword for the south
During the War.

The following correspondence.
which explains itself, will be read
with pleasure by all the soldiers who
served under Gen. Bragg during the
civil war. A sufferer throughout
the struggle between the States from
an incurable disease, he was always
on duty and always ready to
TO subordinate himself to accom-
plish any desired end for his
country. Gen. Bragg was a strict
disciplinarian, because he knew from
experience that discipline was essen
tial to the making of soldiers, and
that without it they can seldom be
made to accomplish successful work,
but he set an example Of willing
obedience himself, and thus justified
his work and his ways.
/.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, December q, 1885.
Hon. Jefferson Davis:
DEAR SIR-You remember, l am
sure, the letter | carried TO you at
Richmond from Gen. Bragg, some
time in the fall of 1911 think it
was September, when | wanted to be
transferred, with my regiment, the
Ninth Mississippi, from Pensacola to
Kentucky. He said to me that it
would not be becoming in him to
make suggestions as to where he
wished to serve, but he authorized
me to say to you, as | did, that if
you thought it best to send Lis army
at Pensacola, which was there well
drilled and equipped, TO Kentucky,
that he would like to go with them,
but if you thought il best that he
should remain at Pensacola you
could with his full consent take
his drilled troops to Kentucky and
send him raw recruits in their stead.
| remember the earnestness with
which you said to me: That is
like Bragg. He thinks more of the
cause than of himself. But few
generals would give up, without COM
planning, an army they had drilled
and made ready for service" Twas
always a great friend and admirer of
Gen. Bragg's and | wish you would
give me in writing your recollection
of the matter, so that some day 1
may use it in print. With senti-
ments of highest regard and esteem,
l am, yours truly,
II.
BEAUv0IR, MISS, January 2, 1887.
Gen. James R. Chalmers:
DEAR SIR-In answer to yours of
the 10Th ult. my memory concurg
substantially with your quotation
from our interview when you came to
me from Gen. Bragg with PROPOSE
tion to send his disciplined troops,
then at Pensacola, to the field of
active service, and that I received
the proposition as confirmatory of
my opinion of Gen. Bragg's self alb
negation and devotion to the cause
he was serving. d.
He gave like manifestation when
he detached troops from the army he
was commanding to reinforce Penn
berton's command, where they were
more Immediately needed. As you
are aware, | had served with Bragg
in Mexico, he was therefore no
stranger to me when he entered the
army Of the Confederacy; but as my
acquaintance with him grew so did
my estimation of him as a skillful
general and devoted patriot | can
we'll understand that the language
you attribute to me is exactly the
answer | must have made to the
proposition you bore. OF course my
many years acquaintance with you
made it easy for me to recognize tie
gallant desire for active service
which caused you to be the voluntary
bearer of Gen. Braggs proposition,
and had no doubt if the transfer of
all of Bragg's troops had been de-
cliDed you would have urged that
your regiment at least should go
where blows we're to be given and
received, Respectfully and truly
yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS.